central processing unit — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The part of a computer that fetches, decodes and executes instructions from memory, possibly through a cache.

   Synonyms

   CPU

Noun

1. (computer science) the part of a computer (a microprocessor chip) that does most of the data processing

   Synonyms

   CPUC.P.U.central processorprocessormainframe

   Broader terms

   electronic equipmenthardwarecomputer hardware

   Examples

   the CPU and the memory form the central part of a computer to which the peripherals are attached